DSS torture allegation Owo trial as defence witness tells Abuja court he was abused in custody during investigation

A defence witness, Jamiu Abdulmalik, on Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was subjected to torture while in the custody of the Department of State Services during investigations into the Owo church attack.

Also read: DSS arrests sixth suspect in Owo church attack

Abdulmalik made the allegation while testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite in the ongoing trial of five defendants charged by the Federal Government.

The defendants include Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

The witness, a plumber and farmer, told the court he was arrested in August 2022 while travelling from Ondo State to Kogi State after being stopped at a checkpoint by masked operatives.

According to him, security personnel searched passengers, accessed his phone details and identified him before placing him under arrest.

“They asked for my name and phone. They pressed something on it and mentioned my full name. They said I was under arrest, handcuffed me and tied my face,” he said.

Abdulmalik alleged that he was taken to a DSS facility in Lokoja, where he was subjected to what he described as inhumane treatment.

“They carried me straight to where they hung me. They didn’t bring me down until I started urinating on my body,” he told the court.

He further claimed that operatives poured water on his face while suspended and pressured him to confess to allegations he denied knowledge of.

“They said I was lying and pushed me to speak. I told them I could not say what I did not know,” he added.

The witness also alleged that he was shown images of a school in his community and accused of being part of a group trained to carry out terrorist activities, an allegation he denied.

“They said I was a student there being trained to terrorise the community. I told them I am a plumber who farms,” he said.

Abdulmalik told the court that operatives presented a list of names allegedly linked to criminal activities in his community, claiming he was among those targeted for arrest.

At a previous hearing, co-defendant Al-Qasim Idris also alleged threats and coercion in custody, including claims that he could be killed if he refused to confess.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to April 1 and 2, 2026, for continuation of the defence.